Ski tow rope gripper



-' Jan. 28, 1941. c. J. BOUSQUET SKI TOW ROPE GRIPPER Filed June 3, 1939 5 QJflOUSQUE'I) Patented Jan. 28, 1941 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention consists of an improvement in ski tow rope grippers.

Ski tows usually consist of endless ropes operated by suitable mechanical means and it has been found desirable to employ handholds, applicable to the rope, for relieving strain on the hands and arms of the users. These handholds, in actual practice, have proven inadequate and unsatisfactory and their use has been generally discontinued. With the non-positive grip type of handhold, heretofore tried, the rope, especially after exposure to the elements, would slip through the jaws of the handhold. With the positive grip type, which has had some use, there is no way of relieving torsional strain on the rope and the handhold has a constant tendency to rotate around the rope as a fulcrum or axis. With any tow-rope there may be an initial tendency of the rope to partially uncoil when new. With any rope which has its ends spliced together, and

which passes about a power drum, there is a continuous twisting or turning of the rope. The diameter of the drum being fixed and the diameter of the rope being fixed the strands in the rope stretch on the outside and are compressed on the inside so that the twist thus set up causes the rope to continuously rotate about its length. Yet further when a load is appliedto a stranded cable the load itself sets up a tendency of the cable to turn or twist.

After much experimentation, especially under varying weather conditions, I have perfected a simple and inexpensive handhold which is positive in its operation, yet capable of facile operation, at the option of the user to permit release of the rope for relieving torsional strain.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the present preferred forms of the invention, taken in connection 0 with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of tow rope gripper constructed in accordance with the present invention illustrating its application when in use, the gripper being engaged with the rope and also 45 with the person of the user,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the gripper showing the latter engaged with the rope,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a gripper constructed in accordance with the present in- 50 vention showing the rope mounted in the jaws thereof, the rope being shown in cross section,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the proximate terminals of a belt connector for the gripper, and

55 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of hinge for the jaws of the gripper.

In the drawing, in order to illustrate the application of my invention, I have shown tow rope ii which is of conventional construction and with 5 which my improved gripper, generally designated 1 is engaged, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing. lf'he gripper consists of twin parts 3 and 8', these parts being hingedly or otherwise movably connected together, as indicated at 9. A portion of 1 each of the parts 8 is angularly offset extending from the hinged terminal 9. By this construction opposed jaws [0 are provided which, when snugly engaged with the tow rope 6, provide a substantially rectangular structure. Each of the 15 angles provides a bight, designated 13, into which the rope is compressed, under pressure on the handles ll of the parts 8 and 8'. An intermediate portion 12 of each of the parts 8 and 8' is contracted to limit the movement of the handles 20 toward each other. By this construction regardless of the pressure applied on the rope, the handles can, at no time, be brought into contiguity. On the contrary this arrangement insures, under all conditions, ample space between the handles 25 II for the insertion of a finger or fingers of the user to permit pressure of the jaws ID on the rope 6 to be periodically released to thereby relieve the rope of torsional strain. Torsional strain is automatically built up, as previously explained, 30 during the motive movement of the rope and unless the gripper is released from time to time it will revolve or rotate around the rope as an axis with manifest hazard and inconvenience to the user. 35

Preferably each of the parts 8 is provided with a broad rounded rib l3 which extends from the free terminal of each of the parts up to and over a major portion of the jaws I b. This rib prevents distortion of the gripper and likewise provides a substantial bearing for the hand.

In Fig. 5, a modified form of hinge is provided which consists of curled lips l4 issuing from one terminal of the part 8, the lips being complemental to an interfitted lip I5 formed in one of the terminals of the part 8'. A fulcrum pin 9' extends through said lips.

If desired, the part 8 may be provided with an aperture 16 for the reception of means l1, through which latter the gripper can be suitably engaged to the person of the user. In Fig. 1, I have shown the means I! to include a hook it, the bill of which is adapted for engagement with links I9 extending from a belt 20, the latter encircling the waist of the user. In this way the skier may be towed while almost completely relaxed. At the same time the part 8' may be moved slightly, at the option of the user, for relieving torsional strain on the tow rope.

When the gripper is not in use it may be engaged in any suitable manner with the belt 20 or inserted in a pocket formed in the latter, if desired.

It is understood that various changes may be made in the invention herein within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is:

1. A ski-tow apparatus comprising a powerdriven endless tow-rope and a detachable hold-on device therefor, said device having relatively movable elongated handles each having an integral shank including rigid angular rope-engaging portions projecting from the end thereof, said rope engaging portions being pivotally interconnected and arranged to be placed in removable engagement with said tow-rope on opposite sides thereof and to yieldably engage the tow-rope therebetween whereby to releasably grip the device thereto when the shank portions are held against the tow-rope, and a belt member connected to only one of said handles arranged to encircle a skiers body to pull him Without effort on his arms.

2. A ski-tow apparatus comprising a powerdriven endless tow-rope and a detachable hold-on device therefor, said device having relatively movable elongated handles each including a shank having rigid angular rope-engaging portions projecting forwardly from the end thereof, said portions being pivotally interconnected and arranged to be placed in removable engagement with said tow-rope, on opposite sides thereof and to yieldably engage the tow-rope, whereby to releasably grip the rope when the said portions are on opposite sides of and held against the tow-rope.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a ski-tow hold-on device comprising in combination, an elongated handle and an integral shank portion having two rigid angular rope engaging portions extending forwardly from an end thereof, said portions adapted to be removably clamped about one side of a ski-tow rope, a second handle pivotally secured to said handle and arranged for relative movement with respect thereto, and to be forced in opposite directions against said towrope by lateral pressure applied to said handles, whereby to grip said tow-rope between said portions and releasably lock said handle thereto.

CLARENCE J. BOUSQUET. 

